Diamond Approach groups are the primary vehicle for engaging the Diamond Approach and the Ridhwan School. 
Diamond Heart Groups are Academy programs.

Groups are created to form a stable, committed, supportive community sharing the same development of the 
teaching. Most groups, once established, are open-ended in their duration, continuing for 10, 15, 20, or more years.
Participation in a group demands a significant commitment of time and energy. Facilitated by committed teachers, 
the strong container provided by ongoing involvement supports and guides a student’s spiritual journey. All groups 
meet for between 15 and 22 meeting days a year, each day consisting of roughly six hours of group time. Meetings 
may be over two-day weekends, three- or four-day events, or five- to eight-day retreats. Diamond Approach groups 
generally have between 50 and 150 members and one to four teachers.

Diamond Approach groups use three formats. In large group the teaching is presented in conjunction with 
meditation, inquiry exercises in groups of two or more, and post-exercise questions and comments. Small group 
sessions of 15–20 students occur during residential retreats or between meetings for a weekend group. Here, 
students support their inquiry practice with the guidance of a teacher. One-on-one sessions with a teacher, 
providing ongoing support for deepening a student’s process, is the third format. These three contexts provide a 
strong field of guidance for inner work and a holding that helps balance the constant, outer orientation of modern 
society.

Because of the significant commitment required of a student, we want to make sure that joining the school is 
appropriate. At some point, we will ask you to fill out an application to help us determine whether this kind of work 
matches what you are looking for. If it does, the commitment is open-ended and ongoing. You are welcome to leave
at any time you find your inner process taking you in a different direction.

Join the New Group Interest List

If there is no open group near you, please join our new group interest list. You may also explore our online offerings at Diamond Approach Online and our public events and retreats on our Public Events List. You can also join the interest list for the new online group Diamond Heart Online 1 that is forming in 2021 through 2023. If you are able to travel, you may join any open group, even if it is in a different geographic location.